Pilot X 1936

[Juliano Nichols]

Iwas looking through some CCC camp photos from Weber State University and noticed that the CO of Company 3240 at Murray, UT in 1936 was wearing an Airship Pilot badge. He was, at the time, 1st Lt. William J. McCracken. Fullsize photo and closeup below. Lt. McCracken shows up in a few sources I've found, training at Ross Field with free balloons in 1921 and called up for active duty with the 19th Airship Company at Langley Field in 1929.

In other photos I've seen Cavalry, Infantry, Signal Corps, and Field Artillery. What really surprises me is that a chunk of USCG Warrant Officers were assigned to the CCC, mostly at District HQs in admin roles.

McCracken was apparently a New Yorker, after doing some digging, and had quite the interesting time when on extended active duty at Langley field. He was on active duty in 1941 as a Captain involved with the Air Cadet program.

Modern Olympic opening ceremonies are often accompanied by a flyover. In the 1936 games in Berlin, Germany, an actual gold medal was awarded for Aeronautics. Gliding, in which aircraft were catapulted into the air, and aerobatics were demonstration events, with the hopes of becoming full-fledged events in the future.

After the games, the Dina was transported to the United States by none other than the Hindenburg. Papana flew the aircraft in the 1937 Cleveland National Air Races and he and other pilots participated in other races and demonstrations until the Dina was severely damaged in 1940. Papana had a career in the United States as a test pilot until his suicide in 1946. Mike Miller bought and restored the Dina. Later, Beverly "Bevo" Howard bought the Jungmeister and won the 1946 and 1947 aerobatic championships with it. Unfortunately, it was also the aircraft in which Howard suffered a fatal accident in 1971. His estate restored the plane and donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1973.

Although preparations were made to continue and expand Aeronautics as an Olympic event, the 1940 Olympics were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II. 1936 remains the only year that an Olympic medal was awarded for Aeronautics.

KANZAKI, Saga Prefecture--Some 90 years after he took off from Paris, the flight of famed French aviator Andre Japy (1904-1974) will be "completed" when an aircraft similar to his vintage monoplane lands in Tokyo.

Those involved are hoping to further bolster the friendship between Japan and France through commemorating the achievements of Japy, who challenged a range of world records alongside other pilots of the era three decades after the Wright Brothers' first controlled flight of their motor-driven airplane.

A 1936 1st edition of the classic memoir of WW1 aerial warfare, written by a former Nieuport Scout and S.E.5 pilot and 'ace' who served alongside Mick Mannock V.C. with 40 Squadron R.F.C. on the Western Front. 'McScotch' was the pseudonym used by Lieutenant William McLanachan. McLanachan remains a somewhat controversial and shadowy figure in the annals of WW1 aerial combat.

Despite having written this superb account of his time as front line fighter pilot, little is known about the rest of his life. After serving for two years in the Infantry, MacLanachan transferred to the RFC and was posted to No. 40 Squadron in May 1917. He flew the Nieuport Scout, and the S.E.5. He was posted to a home defense squadron in 1918, but only includes his service with No. 40 Squadron in France in this book. During his time with 40 Squadron he was officially credited with seven victories. After returning to England early in 1918 McLanachan is said to have resigned his commission in the RFC and resumed his pre-war medical studies. But that is pretty much all that is known about him. And doubt has been cast on the veracity of some of his claims, partcularly the closeness of his friendship with Mick Mannock. Yet for many the account he presents in Fighter Pilot has the ring of truth, and above all it is an invaluable insight into the mind and character of Mannock, an enigmatic and much misunderstood figure.

Along with Victor Yeates' superb Winged Victory, McLanachan's Fighter Pilot is essential reading for anyone interested in the psychology of WW1 pilots and the incredible strain of combat flying.

Condition:

In fair to good condition, ex-library. The boards are in good condition, with a slight lean to the spine. The binding and hinges are good and secure. The text is in good condition, with some marks and some foxing, mainly to the preliminary pages, title page, and the last few pages. With 'Withdrawn' ink stamps and library markings to the endpapers.

The Vickers-Supermarine Type 300 was a private venture, built to meet an Air Ministry requirement for a new single-place, single-engine interceptor for the Royal Air Force. The airplane was designed by a team led by Reginald Joseph Mitchell, C.B.E., F.R.Ae.S., and was built at the Supermarine Aviation Works, Southampton, Hampshire, England.

Captain Joseph Summers, C.B.E., was born 10 March 1904. He was the older brother of Group Captain Maurice Summers, who was also a test pilot for Vickers. In 1922, he married Miss Dulcie Jeanette Belcher at Sculcoates, Yorkshire. They would have several children.

Iris Louise McPhetridge was born 12 November 1905 at Bentonville, Arkansas. She was the first of three daughters of Roy Fry McPhetridge, owner of a foundry, and Edna Hobbs McPhetridge. She was educated at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, a member of the Class of 1927. She was president of the Delta Delta Delta (ΔΔΔ) Sorority, Delta Iota (ΔΙ) Chapter, head sports for basketball and president of The Panhellenic.

Thaden had founded the Thaden Metal Aircraft Company, builder of the all-metal Thaden T-1, T-2, and T-4 Argonaut. Thaden went on to design molded plywood furniture for the Thaden-Jordan Furniture Corporation. His designs are considered to be works of art, and individual pieces sell for as much as $30,000 today.

The Beechcraft C17R was single-engine, single-bay biplane operated by a single pilot and could carry up to four passengers in its enclosed cabin.The basic structure was a welded tubular steel frame with wood formers and stringers. The wings and tail surfaces were built of wood spars and ribs with the leading edges and wing tips covered with plywood. The airplane was covered with doped fabric, except the cabin and engine, which were covered in sheet metal. It was equipped with electrically-operated retractable landing gear and wing flaps.

The Beechcraft C17R flown by Louise Thaden to win the Bendix Trophy, serial number C17R-77, had already been sold to the government of the Republic of Honduras, but Walter Beech let Thaden use it for the race before delivering to the owner. It was painted in Sherwin Williams Consolidated Blue with white stripes. The rear passenger seats were removed and a 56 gallon (212 liter) auxiliary fuel tank installed in their place.

I went to the last Boro cruise in for the season this evening. Lots of fun cars. I ran into my friend who owns the 36 Plymouth pictured below. He told me he was driving on the freeway doing 60 MPG and some drunk rear-ended him. This drunk must have been doing 80 because it close to totaled this Plymouth. The cops hauled the drunk off in cuffs but fortunately the drunk had insurance. Problem is now my friend is trying to find parts for repairs. The most critical parts are rear quarter panels. Does anyone know where these quarter panels may be available for this 36 Plymouth 2 door sedan? I sure would like to help him out. He may also need other parts but the quarter panels are the critical part.

I'll ask around. I know of several 1937 P4 cars in my local area but no 1936 P1 or P2. I need to check the parts book to see if the 1936 four door body parts are interchangeable with other years, etc...

Should fit 35-36 cars of same body style. From my 36-48 master parts list looks like they are model specific. Don does that car have the hump for the trunk? Also am I seeing things or is there a second door handle on the side?

What a shame Don. I know exactly what car you are talking about. He always stays at the same hotel as I do for Frog Follies in Evansville. That is a super nice car. I just saw it again last month. I can't remember his name, but he is a nice fellow. Hate to hear he got hit.

The 1936 body was used only in 1936. It was based on the 1935 body but had a different windshield and everything from the B pillar back. Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler were based on the Plymouth. but had different rear doors and rear quarter panels. Plus the DeSoto Custom and Chrysler used a 2-piece windshield.

Guy named carcrop on E-bay is parting a 36 4 door sedan...I bought the right front door from him several weeks ago. I think he still has most of the rest of the car. I know he had fenders listed on e-bay recently.

I'm restoring a 36' Desoto Airstream that sat in a field for a long time. I'm going to restore this car from the ground up. Starting with the engine because I was told by the previous owner that the last time it was started was in the 90's so why not give it a shot. In checking out the wiring it had been chewed up by every critter that happened to walk or crawled by. I think some had lived in the car at one time or another. My question to all is where can I acquire an exact wiring diagram of the car?

First thing is that you should purchase the service manual and parts manual for the car. They are on Ebay and a reprint is just fine. Inside there isa diaghram of the wireing setup for the S1 which is the Airstream Version and the S2 is the Airflow version.

Thanks for the reply. I never restored a car I did my truck a 1969 Chevrolet 1/2 ton C-10. The 36' Desoto I started to work on recently. I'm going to order the service and parts manual that you mentioned from Ebay. Are you restoring the 1939 Desoto sedan?

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